Service Drive Revolution with Chris Collins

Service Managers, Fixed Ops Leaders, and Dealership Executives — Why do some people and teams consistently outperform everyone else… while others stay stuck? In this episode of Service Drive Revolution #339, Chris Collins and the team break down what elite leadership actually looks like — and why intentionality, preparation, and standards matter more than talent, location, or luck. Using a surpris...

Service Managers, Fixed Ops Directors, and Controllers — this is one of the most misunderstood numbers in your dealership. Unapplied labor quietly destroys profitability, inflates your cost per hour, and masks the real performance of your service department. Most dealerships don't even realize how much money they're losing — because the problem is buried inside the financial statement. In SDR #338...

🛑 Book a free 30-min. discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: https://calendly.com/cci-schedule/30-minute-discovery-call-with-chris-collins-inc?utm=SDRPod&month=2025-12 Service Managers and Fixed Ops leaders — are you overlooking the easiest revenue in your entire service drive? In SDR #337, Chris Collins and Christian break down the LOW-HANGING FRUIT in Fixed Ops that instantly boos...

Most people will make resolutions, download a new app, join a gym… and quit by January 15th. In this episode of SDR #336, Chris and Christian break down why goals fail — and reveal the intentional goal-setting process they've used for years to hit targets in business, leadership, and life. This is the conversation every service leader needs before setting their 2026 goals. Inside this episode, you...

Dealers, Service Managers, and Fixed Ops leaders: Are you frustrated with the direction of our industry? Do you feel like the people responsible for leading automotive into the future are asleep at the wheel? In SDR #335, Chris Collins unleashes one of his most honest, unfiltered rants ever — and it's the conversation the industry needs but refuses to have. If you've ever wondered why training is...

Service Managers and Fixed Ops leaders: Are you losing control? If you're struggling with inconsistent productivity, low technician morale, and a shop where management has lost authority, you know the stakes are high. Your culture is toxic, and it's killing your business. In this episode of SDR #334, Chris Collins and Christian deliver the essential 6-STEP BLUEPRINT for service managers ready to s...

What's really changed in the car dealership service drive—and what hasn't? In this special roundtable edition of SDR #332, Chris Collins and the team break down decades of experience in Fixed Ops leadership, revealing the timeless lessons every service manager and advisor needs to know. From culture to communication, this episode uncovers why the fundamentals of great leadership haven't changed—ev...

Your service department's biggest problem might not be your advisors, your techs, or your customers—it's your culture. In episode #331 of SDR, Chris Collins and Coach Christian expose the top seven service department culture killers that are quietly destroying dealership performance, morale, and profitability. If you're a Service Manager or Fixed Ops Director, you'll learn: Why unclear goals and w...

In SDR #330, Chris Collins, Christian Lafferty, and Hogi expose the 7 biggest pay-plan mistakes that cost dealerships money, motivation, and top talent. From overcompensating mediocrity to confusing multi-page pay structures, this episode breaks down why most Service Advisor pay plans fail — and how to rebuild yours for higher performance, retention, and CSI. You'll learn: Why rewarding average pe...

What's running your service department: feelings, or facts? In this episode, #329, Chris, Christian, and Hogi break down what spells success in Fixed Operations. Here's a hint: it's not tradition, and it's not the blame game. It's all about tracking the RIGHT numbers. It's like Moneyball; scouts were worried about intangibles like how a player looked, acted, or "felt," when all they needed to know...

Why do good technicians and advisors leave—and what makes them stay? In SDR #328, Chris Collins and Christian sit down with   @clintpulver  author of I Love It Here and the "Undercover Millennial," who has interviewed over 11,000 employees undercover to find the truth about retention. Here's what they discovered: it's not just about money. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why employees quit manage...

Are your technicians leaving for $2 more an hour—or is there a deeper reason? In SDR #327, Chris & Christian break down why tech retention has less to do with pay plans and everything to do with leadership, systems, and culture. Most dealerships ask the wrong question: "Am I paying my techs enough?" The real question is, "Have I built an environment where great techs want to stay?" In this episode...

How do you make the leap from Service Manager to General Manager? In SDR #326, Chris & Christian lay out the 7 key steps every ambitious Fixed Ops leader needs to follow if they want to run the whole dealership. Most Service Managers get stuck because they only think about their department. But the path to GM requires mastering leadership, profitability, culture, and dealership-wide strategy. In t...

When is a new service advisor really ready? In SDR #325, Chris & Christian break down training timelines, feedback loops, and why rushing onboarding ruins more advisors than it helps. Plus, industry updates on Ford recalls, Nissan's struggles, and more. We also tackle one of the most common questions in the service drive: how long does it actually take to get a new service advisor up to speed? Is...

In this episode of Service Drive Revolution, we dig into a hot-button topic in the service lane: what to do when customers say "NO!" Should advisors really be trained to overcome objections? Or is that outdated sales tactic actually hurting CSI, retention, and long-term profitability? We share stories from real dealership experiences—including a Range Rover service visit—and reveal why the way mos...

Welcome to Service Drive Revolution – In this episode, we dig into a surprising topic: What does Canada do better than the U.S.? (Hint: it's not poutine, but it could change the game for dealerships everywhere). If you care about the industry, the country, and your job in the automotive world, you may want to watch this one! We also hop around from hilarious stories about giving away Jeeps and mon...

In this episode of Service Drive Revolution, Chris and Christian break down the hard truth behind why over 50% of service managers are turned over every year — and it's not what you think. From raw, personal stories of their most personal firings to a detailed breakdown of industry failures, broken leadership systems, and the lack of real mentorship… this episode will hit home for anyone in the De...

This week on Service Drive Revolution, we're pulling back the curtain on what most will never see. Not theory. Not hype. But raw, real numbers that tell the story of who's actually winning in fixed ops—and who's pretending. Some are still stuck in the mindset that says, "That can't happen in my market." Others are taking informed action and making their way to the green line of success - rewriting...

In this episode of Service Drive Revolution, Chris and Christian dive deep into one of the challenges facing Service Departments today: How do you take a Quick Lube Tech and grow them into a Master Tech? This isn't just theory—we're talking real, actionable strategies that can transform your technician pipeline. You'll walk away with at least 3–4 powerful ideas that can immediately be implemented...

On this episode of Service Drive Revolution, Chris, Christian & Hogie talk with a very special guest - Dave. He's a Chris Collins Elite Member, lifelong automative industry veteran, and true leader in the industry! Dave shares his inspiring rise from Parts Manager to General Manager of a dealership and offers invaluable insights for Parts Managers, Service Advisors, Service Managers and all Fixed...

Ready to revolutionize your automotive shop with video inspections? They're the hottest trend in the industry, but without a clear strategy, they can backfire. In this episode of Service Drive Revolution, Chris, Christian, and Hogi share the best way to make video inspections work for your shop—driving customer trust, technician buy-in, and serious growth. Why watch? If you're adding or refining v...

Join us on Service Drive Revolution for an informative roundtable discussion about the NEXT impending crisis in the automotive industry! From tariffs to arranged marriages (yes, you read that right!), our expert panel—Chris and Christian, along with coaches Jean, Cliff, Hogie, Vicky, and Fairborz—dive into the challenges facing service departments and dealerships. We reflect on past crises like CO...

In this episode of Service Drive Revolution!, we dive deep into the mindsets and behaviors that separate top performers from low performers in the automotive service industry. Join Chris Collins and our expert coaches—James "Captain" Baumer, Matt Hoagie, Christian, Cliff, and Gator—as they share over 100 years of combined experience. This is one episode you will NOT want to miss - tons of value!  ...

🚗 Glenn Lundy Is BACK! Masterclass on Leadership & Dealership Culture. Welcome to Service Drive Revolution — your go-to show for leadership, innovation, and laughs from the heart of the automotive world. In this episode, we're joined by none other than Glenn Lundy, the powerhouse behind the 800% Elite Automotive Club and host of the wildly popular Rise & Grind morning show. 💥 Buckle up — this on...